Lemon Raspberry Panna Cotta Cheesecake

Lemon Raspberry Panna Cotta Cheesecake ~ is a no bake, luscious dessert made with a lemony custard-like cheesecake, topped with a second layer of raspberry panna cotta and set over a gingersnap cookie crust. A new recipe for our classic panna cotta dessert, only it’s in a pie version and it goes together in three easy steps.

The top layer is the bonus and the star of this dessert. An additional layer of panna cotta is blended with raspberries giving it a pretty color while it adds a lovely sweet-tart flavor.

Three distinctive flavors, lemon, raspberry and ginger are surprisingly subtle in this dessert but work very well together making it incredibly delicious! Amazingly light and airy, the taste is pure heaven. So don’t be surprised when your guests ask for a second serving.

Lemon Raspberry Panna Cotta Cheesecake is a sensational crowd-pleasing dessert that is made without a lot of fuss and can be made up to 2 days ahead.

Try it for summer gatherings.

Lemon Raspberry Panna Cotta Cheesecake is not only a beautiful dessert, it conveys a sense of your occasion. But everyone knows – you don’t need an occasion to make a dessert like this one, right?

ENJOY!!

Lemon Raspberry Panna Cotta Cheesecake ~ is a no bake, luscious dessert made with a lemony custard-like cheesecake, topped with a creamy layer of raspberry over a gingersnap crust. Lemon and raspberry flavors work well in this exquisite dessert making it incredibly delicious! Can be made up to 2 days ahead.

Ingredients

For the Crust :

½ cup salted butter (one stick) melted

1 cup Ginger Snap crumbs (about 20 small cookies)

1 cup Graham Cracker crumbs

2 Tbsp. sugar

Filling :

1 package (8-ounce) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream

1 small envelope (1-ounce) unflavored gelatin (by Knox)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

½ cup sugar

1 ¼ cups sour cream

½ lemon juiced

zest of 1 lemon

Raspberry Panna Cotta Layer:

1 + ¼ cups heavy cream

½ -ounce unflavored gelatin (used half of the envelope)

2 Tbsp. sugar

¼ tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup frozen raspberries

Garnish on top:

fresh blueberries and fresh strawberries

Instructions

To make the Crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl combine both crumbs, sugar, and butter. Transfer to a 10 inch spring form pan. Using a small cup to press the mixture into the pan and up the sides.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Until lightly golden and set it aside to cool.

Panna Cotta Cheesecake Filling:

In a small pot, pour ½ cup of heavy cream and sprinkle gelatin on top and let stand for 2 minutes. Turn on heat to low, and heat cream for about 2 minutes, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Add vanilla, sugar and remaining heavy cream. Simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring until sugar completely dissolves and cream is well heated through, but not boiling. Turn off heat.

In the meantime, into an electric blender or food processor, add cream cheese, sour cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice and blend for 1 minute.

Pop open the small lid on top of blender and slowly pour the hot cream mixture (panna cotta) to combine with the cold ingredients. Blend on lowest speed first, then gradually on to the highest speed for at least 5 minutes.

Slowly pour creamy mixture into the crust and refrigerate uncovered for 1 hour.

For Raspberry Layer:

Using the same small sauce pot, heat 1 cup of heavy cream with gelatin, vanilla and sugar. Heat on medium heat until sugar and gelatin are completely dissolved. Remove from heat.

Toss raspberries into a blender, remove the small lid on top and SLOWLY pour the hot cream into the blender with the frozen raspberries and blend on low speed for about 1 minute, then blend on highest speed for 2 minutes more.

Remove the cheesecake from the refrigerator and gently pour the raspberry panna cotta on top and cover the entire surface, use the back of a spoon to help.

Place the dessert back into the refrigerator until the top layer cools completely, about ½ hour.

Then cover it with foil or clear wrap, and continue to refrigerate for at least 3 to 4 hours more, or over night.

When Ready to Serve:

Garnish and decorate on top with fresh blueberries and sliced strawberries.

Take a clean knife and gently slide the knife around the outer rim of the dessert. Open the clip and remove the spring form pan. Place the entire dessert (do not remove the bottom of the pan) onto a large serving platter and slice into individual servings as needed.

Yields: 8 to 10 servings

Notes

A Cook's Notes: I used frozen raspberries but you can certainly use fresh ones.It's best to decorate the top with fresh berries the day you plan to serve this dessert. This will ensure the berries will always look fresh and not wilt on top. Fresh berries should be dried (not wet) before placing them on top. Decorating with berries on top is fun! So go for it and be creative!